The idolatry of Israel
September 6, 2019
Commentary
The event in this chapter demonstrates the subtlety of Satan; for what he could not curse, he would corrupt both by idolatry and immorality (vv. 1-2). Balaam wasn’t able to curse Israel, but he knew how to defile them and seduce them into sin so great that Jehovah would judge them. The Bible doesn’t really say how the Israelite men got involved in sexual immorality. It appears that at first they didn’t think about worshiping idols; they were just interested in sex. But before long they started attending local feasts and family celebrations that involved idol worship. Their desire for fun and pleasure caused them to forget their spiritual commitment.
Baal was the most popular god in Canaan, the land Israel was about to enter. The Israelites were continually attracted to Baal worship in which prostitution played a large part. An angry God demanded the death sentence of all the Israelites who participated in this sexual service (vv. 4,5). About this time Zimri, a leader in the tribe of Simeon (v. 14) brought a Midianite woman by the name of Cozbi (v. 15) back to the camp of Israel and openly took her into his tent right before the eyes of Moses. Aaron’s grandson Phinehas left the prayer meeting and went after the couple, killing both of them in the tent with one thrust of his spear (v. 8).
It is clear from Phinehas’ story that some anger is proper and justified. Phinehas was angry because of his zeal for the Lord (vv. 10-11). If we are becoming more like God, we should be angered by sin. Phinehas’ act made atonement for the nation of Israel, and in effect, what he did averted God’s judgment. Because of this, his descendants became high priests (vv 12-13).
Application
If it is my rights that are at stake, it may be wiser to keep angry feelings under control, rather than expressing them to others. But if it is a principal of God being violated, then anger may be justified however retaliation is never good.
Numbers 25:1– 18 (NET)
1 When Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. 2 These women invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods; then the people ate and bowed down to their gods. 3 When Israel joined themselves to Baal Peor, the anger of the Lord flared up against Israel.
4 The Lord said to Moses, “Arrest all the leaders of the people, and hang them up before the Lord in broad daylight, so that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel.” 5 So Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you must execute those of his men who were joined to Baal Peor.”
6 Just then one of the Israelites came and brought to his brothers a Midianite woman in the plain view of Moses and of the whole community of the Israelites, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 7 When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up from among the assembly, took a javelin in his hand, 8 and went after the Israelite man into the tent and thrust through the Israelite man and into the woman’s abdomen. So the plague was stopped from the Israelites. 9 Those that died in the plague were 24,000.
10 The Lord spoke to Moses: 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites, when he manifested such zeal for my sake among them, so that I did not consume the Israelites in my zeal. 12 Therefore, announce: ‘I am going to give to him my covenant of peace. 13 So it will be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of a permanent priesthood, because he has been zealous for his God, and has made atonement for the Israelites.’”
14 Now the name of the Israelite who was stabbed—the one who was stabbed with the Midianite woman—was Zimri son of Salu, a leader of a clan of the Simeonites. 15 The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur. He was a leader over the people of a clan of Midian.
16 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 17 “Bring trouble to the Midianites, and destroy them, 18 because they bring trouble to you by their treachery with which they have deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague that happened as a result of Peor.”